Vincristine is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Vincristine interferes with the growth of
cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Vincristine is used in the treatment of leukemia. Vincristine has also been used in the treatment
of Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, Wilms'
tumor, and other types of cancer.
Vincristine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking vincristine?
Do not use vincristine without first talking to your doctor if you have
liver disease;
kidney disease;
a breathing or lung disease; or
Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome or another type of nerve or
neuromuscular disease.
The use of vincristine may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions
listed above.
Vincristine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that vincristine is known to be
harmful to an unborn baby.
Do not
use vincristine without first talking to your doctor
if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are
recommended during treatment with vincristine.
It is not know whether vincristine passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding should be avoided
during treatment with vincristine.
How should I take vincristine?
Vincristine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with vincristine
depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any
questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you notice redness, pain or swelling at the place of
injection or anywhere else on your skin.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with vincristine to monitor progress and side effects.
Your healthcare provider will store vincristine as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing
vincristine at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
What happens if I miss a dose of vincristine?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of vincristine.
Where can I get more information about vincristine?
Your pharmacist has information about vincristine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of vincristine?
If you experience any of the following side effects from vincristine, contact your doctor:
an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the
throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
nerve problems (such as burning, pricking, or tingling; loss
of reflexes, or difficulty walking);
little or no urine production, painful or difficult urination,
or excessive urination;
constipation or abdominal cramps;
nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite;
weight and muscle loss or wasting;
inflamation and sores on the lips or inside the mouth;
hearing problems;
vision problems;
jaw, throat, bone, back, or limb pain;
headache;
temporary hair loss; or
redness, burning, or irritation at the injection site.
Menstruation in women and sperm production in men may stop.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical
advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about vincristine?
Vincristine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of vincristine including: allergic reactions
(difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); nerve damage
(burning, pricking, or tingling; loss of reflexes and difficulty in walking); severe nausea, vomiting,
constipation, and loss of appetite; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from
treatment with vincristine.
What should I avoid while taking vincristine?
There are no restrictions on food, beverages or activity during treatment with vincristine unless
otherwise directed by your doctor.
What other drugs will affect vincristine?
Many drugs may interact with vincristine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any
other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with
vincristine.
What happens if I have an overdose of vincristine?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009